Very Short Introductions online : Earth Sciences and Geography/browse
Lakes: A Very Short Introductionhttp://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/10.1093/actrade/9780198766735.001.0001/actrade-9780198766735
<table><tr><td width="200px"><img width="150px" src="http://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/covers/9780198766735.png" alt="Lakes: A Very Short Introduction"/><br/></td><td><dl><dt>Author:</dt><dd>Warwick F. Vincent</dd><dt>ISBN:</dt><dd>9780198766735</dd><dt>Publisher:</dt><dd>Oxford University Press</dd><dt>Subjects:</dt><dd>Science and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography, Physical Geography and Topography</dd><dt>DOI:</dt><dd>10.1093/actrade/9780198766735.001.0001</dd><dt>Published in print:</dt><dd>2018</dd><dt>Published Online:</dt><dd>2018-01-25</dd></dl></td></tr></table><p>
From the mysterious depths of Lake Vostok, Antarctica, to tropical floodplain lakes, inland seas, hydro-reservoirs, and numerous waterbodies in our local environment, lakes encompass a huge diversity of shapes, sizes, depths, colours, and even salinities. Lakes are important, unique ecosystems, providing us with drinking water and food. Lakes: A Very Short Introduction introduces lake science (‘limnology’), discussing the importance of sustaining these complex ecosystems; and the impact on lake biodiversity of features such as climate, seasons, salinity, and sedimentation. It traces the origins of lake science from François Forel’s seminal work on Lake Geneva to modern approaches, such as environmental sensors, satellite observations, stable isotope analysis, and DNA-based technologies.
</p>Warwick F. Vincent2018-01-25Fossils: A Very Short Introductionhttp://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/10.1093/actrade/9780192805041.001.0001/actrade-9780192805041
<table><tr><td width="200px"><img width="150px" src="http://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/covers/9780192805041.png" alt="Fossils: A Very Short Introduction"/><br/></td><td><dl><dt>Author:</dt><dd>Keith Thomson</dd><dt>ISBN:</dt><dd>9780192805041</dd><dt>Publisher:</dt><dd>Oxford University Press</dd><dt>Subjects:</dt><dd>Science and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography, Palaeontology</dd><dt>DOI:</dt><dd>10.1093/actrade/9780192805041.001.0001</dd><dt>Published in print:</dt><dd>2005</dd><dt>Published Online:</dt><dd>2013-09-24</dd></dl></td></tr></table><p>
How did Darwin use fossils to support his theory of evolution? What are ‘living fossils’? What fossils will we leave behind for future generations to examine? Fossils: A Very Short Introduction shows how fossils have been vital to our understanding of the formation of the earth and the origins of all life on it. However, their impact has not been limited to debates about geology and evolution; attempts to explain their existence has shaken religion at its very roots, and they have remained a subject of ceaseless fascination for people of all ages and backgrounds.
</p>Keith Thomson2013-09-24Dinosaurs: A Very Short Introductionhttp://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/10.1093/actrade/9780192804198.001.0001/actrade-9780192804198
<table><tr><td width="200px"><img width="150px" src="http://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/covers/9780192804198.png" alt="Dinosaurs: A Very Short Introduction"/><br/></td><td><dl><dt>Author:</dt><dd>David Norman</dd><dt>ISBN:</dt><dd>9780192804198</dd><dt>Publisher:</dt><dd>Oxford University Press</dd><dt>Subjects:</dt><dd>Science and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography, Palaeontology</dd><dt>DOI:</dt><dd>10.1093/actrade/9780192804198.001.0001</dd><dt>Published in print:</dt><dd>2005</dd><dt>Published Online:</dt><dd>2013-09-24</dd></dl></td></tr></table><p>
Dinosaurs: A Very Short Introduction explains the latest findings in dinosaur research and the exciting scientific discoveries that have built up a picture of how dinosaurs looked, what they ate, and how they moved and interacted with each other. This new approach combines many areas of science, such as anatomy, genetics, forensics and engineering design, to piece together the evidence of how animal life evolved on earth, and why it did in the way that it did. Starting with ancient myths and the history of the discovery of dinosaurs, this VSI also discusses the role that informed speculation and luck has played in many key discoveries.
</p>David Norman2013-09-24The Earth: A Very Short Introductionhttp://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/10.1093/actrade/9780192803078.001.0001/actrade-9780192803078
<table><tr><td width="200px"><img width="150px" src="http://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/covers/9780192803078.png" alt="The Earth: A Very Short Introduction"/><br/></td><td><dl><dt>Author:</dt><dd>Martin Redfern</dd><dt>ISBN:</dt><dd>9780192803078</dd><dt>Publisher:</dt><dd>Oxford University Press</dd><dt>Subjects:</dt><dd>Science and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography</dd><dt>DOI:</dt><dd>10.1093/actrade/9780192803078.001.0001</dd><dt>Published in print:</dt><dd>2003</dd><dt>Published Online:</dt><dd>2013-09-24</dd></dl></td></tr></table><p>
The Earth: A Very Short Introduction provides an introduction to the processes that govern the changing geology of the Earth. About 30 years ago, two things happened that began to revolutionize the understanding of these processes. First, geologists realized that the continents themselves were drifting across the surface of the globe and that the oceans were being created and destroyed. Secondly, satellites in space returned images of the entire planet and Earth began to be viewed as a single, dynamic entity. This VSI looks at how those ideas have transformed our understanding of the geological processes that are at work on our planet.
</p>Martin Redfern2013-09-24Rivers: A Very Short Introductionhttp://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/10.1093/actrade/9780199588671.001.0001/actrade-9780199588671
<table><tr><td width="200px"><img width="150px" src="http://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/covers/9780199588671.png" alt="Rivers: A Very Short Introduction"/><br/></td><td><dl><dt>Author:</dt><dd>Nick Middleton</dd><dt>ISBN:</dt><dd>9780199588671</dd><dt>Publisher:</dt><dd>Oxford University Press</dd><dt>Subjects:</dt><dd>Science and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography, Physical Geography and Topography</dd><dt>DOI:</dt><dd>10.1093/actrade/9780199588671.001.0001</dd><dt>Published in print:</dt><dd>2012</dd><dt>Published Online:</dt><dd>2013-09-24</dd></dl></td></tr></table><p>
Rivers: A Very Short Introduction describes the impact of rivers on land, human history, animals, plants, and in works of art. It explores the cultural resonances of rivers with their own myths and romance. What roles have rivers played in human history? What is the human impact upon rivers? Rivers shape landscapes and provide people and animals with water, nourishing both town and country. The flow of rivers has enthused poets and painters, explorers and pilgrims. Rivers have acted as cradles for civilization and agents of disaster; a river may be a barrier or a highway, it can bear trade and sediment, culture, and conflict.
</p>Nick Middleton2013-09-24Deserts: A Very Short Introductionhttp://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/10.1093/actrade/9780199564309.001.0001/actrade-9780199564309
<table><tr><td width="200px"><img width="150px" src="http://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/covers/9780199564309.png" alt="Deserts: A Very Short Introduction"/><br/></td><td><dl><dt>Author:</dt><dd>Nick Middleton</dd><dt>ISBN:</dt><dd>9780199564309</dd><dt>Publisher:</dt><dd>Oxford University Press</dd><dt>Subjects:</dt><dd>Science and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography, Physical Geography and Topography</dd><dt>DOI:</dt><dd>10.1093/actrade/9780199564309.001.0001</dd><dt>Published in print:</dt><dd>2009</dd><dt>Published Online:</dt><dd>2013-09-24</dd></dl></td></tr></table><p>
Deserts: A Very Short Introduction explores the nature of deserts and the extent of their variety, climates, landscapes, wildlife, and human habitation. Typified by drought and extremes of temperature, deserts can be harsh and hostile; but many are also beautiful and, on occasion, teem with life. The uniqueness of deserts through an examination of their plants, animals, climatic conditions, scenery, resources, human occupants, and future potential are outlined. The beauty, biodiversity, and importance of deserts within a global context are highlighted and a case made for their preservation, protection, and further research.
</p>Nick Middleton2013-09-24Landscapes and Geomorphology: A Very Short Introductionhttp://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/10.1093/actrade/9780199565573.001.0001/actrade-9780199565573
<table><tr><td width="200px"><img width="150px" src="http://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/covers/9780199565573.png" alt="Landscapes and Geomorphology: A Very Short Introduction"/><br/></td><td><dl><dt>Author:</dt><dd>Andrew Goudie, Heather Viles</dd><dt>ISBN:</dt><dd>9780199565573</dd><dt>Publisher:</dt><dd>Oxford University Press</dd><dt>Subjects:</dt><dd>Science and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography, Physical Geography and Topography</dd><dt>DOI:</dt><dd>10.1093/actrade/9780199565573.001.0001</dd><dt>Published in print:</dt><dd>2010</dd><dt>Published Online:</dt><dd>2013-09-24</dd></dl></td></tr></table><p>
Landscapes and Geomorphology: A Very Short Introduction presents an introduction to landscapes and the methods and techniques used to study it. Examining what landscapes are, and how we use a range of ideas and techniques to study them, it is demonstrated how geomorphologists have built on methods pioneered by 19th-century scientists. Using examples from around the world, key controls on landscapes today, such as tectonics, climate, humans, and the living world, are explored. Concluding with the cultural importance of landscapes, and how this has led to the conservation of much 'earth heritage', this VSI looks at how we can predict the response of landscapes to climate change in the future.
</p>Andrew Goudie and Heather Viles2013-09-24The Ice Age: A Very Short Introductionhttp://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/10.1093/actrade/9780199580699.001.0001/actrade-9780199580699
<table><tr><td width="200px"><img width="150px" src="http://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/covers/9780199580699.png" alt="The Ice Age: A Very Short Introduction"/><br/></td><td><dl><dt>Author:</dt><dd>Jamie Woodward</dd><dt>ISBN:</dt><dd>9780199580699</dd><dt>Publisher:</dt><dd>Oxford University Press</dd><dt>Subjects:</dt><dd>Science and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography</dd><dt>DOI:</dt><dd>10.1093/actrade/9780199580699.001.0001</dd><dt>Published in print:</dt><dd>2014</dd><dt>Published Online:</dt><dd>2014-01-23</dd></dl></td></tr></table><p>
The study of the Quaternary ice age has revolutionized ideas about Earth system change and the pace of landscape and ecosystem dynamics. The Ice Age: A Very Short Introduction looks at evidence from the continents, the oceans, and the ice core records, and the human stories behind it all. It examines the remarkable environmental shifts that took place during the Great Ice Age of the Quaternary Period. This VSI explores the evolution of ideas, evaluates the contributions of the leading players in the great debates, and presents some of the ingenious methods that have been used to retrieve information about the recent geological past.
</p>Jamie Woodward2014-01-23Climate: A Very Short Introductionhttp://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/10.1093/actrade/9780199641130.001.0001/actrade-9780199641130
<table><tr><td width="200px"><img width="150px" src="http://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/covers/9780199641130.png" alt="Climate: A Very Short Introduction"/><br/></td><td><dl><dt>Author:</dt><dd>Mark Maslin</dd><dt>ISBN:</dt><dd>9780199641130</dd><dt>Publisher:</dt><dd>Oxford University Press</dd><dt>Subjects:</dt><dd>Science and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography, Meteorology and Climatology</dd><dt>DOI:</dt><dd>10.1093/actrade/9780199641130.001.0001</dd><dt>Published in print:</dt><dd>2013</dd><dt>Published Online:</dt><dd>2013-09-24</dd></dl></td></tr></table><p>
Climate: A Very Short Introduction considers all aspects of the global climate system, exploring and explaining the different components that control the climate on Earth. Climate affects everything we do in life, from the clothes we wear to the illnesses we might catch. How does energy reach the Earth? How does the ocean–atmosphere system redistribute energy around the plane? What is the relationship and what are the differences between climate and the weather? Climate affects life on Earth and human settlements in many different ways. Humans have to live their lives aware of the risk of cyclic and quasi-cyclic features of climate such as the Milankovitch cycles and El Nino.
</p>Mark Maslin2013-09-24Oceans: A Very Short Introductionhttp://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/10.1093/actrade/9780199655076.001.0001/actrade-9780199655076
<table><tr><td width="200px"><img width="150px" src="http://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/covers/9780199655076.png" alt="Oceans: A Very Short Introduction"/><br/></td><td><dl><dt>Author:</dt><dd>Dorrik Stow</dd><dt>ISBN:</dt><dd>9780199655076</dd><dt>Publisher:</dt><dd>Oxford University Press</dd><dt>Subjects:</dt><dd>Science and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography, Oceanography and Hydrology</dd><dt>DOI:</dt><dd>10.1093/actrade/9780199655076.001.0001</dd><dt>Published in print:</dt><dd>2017</dd><dt>Published Online:</dt><dd>2017-07-27</dd></dl></td></tr></table><p>
The oceans are critical for life on Earth. They are vital for the regulation of climate, and with global warming and decreasing land area they have become increasingly important as a source of food and of energy in the form of oil and gas, and for their mineral wealth. Oceans also form a key part of the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and other elements essential to life. Oceans: A Very Short Introduction analyses these important components and considers their relationship with, and exploitation by, humans. It also explores how oceans originate, evolve, and change, including the physical processes that are active within their waters, and the shape and nature of the seafloor.
</p>Dorrik Stow2017-07-27Weather: A Very Short Introductionhttp://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/10.1093/actrade/9780199571314.001.0001/actrade-9780199571314
<table><tr><td width="200px"><img width="150px" src="http://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/covers/9780199571314.png" alt="Weather: A Very Short Introduction"/><br/></td><td><dl><dt>Author:</dt><dd>Storm Dunlop</dd><dt>ISBN:</dt><dd>9780199571314</dd><dt>Publisher:</dt><dd>Oxford University Press</dd><dt>Subjects:</dt><dd>Science and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography, Meteorology and Climatology</dd><dt>DOI:</dt><dd>10.1093/actrade/9780199571314.001.0001</dd><dt>Published in print:</dt><dd>2017</dd><dt>Published Online:</dt><dd>2017-01-26</dd></dl></td></tr></table><p>
Weather: A Very Short Introduction explains what weather is, how it differs from climate, what causes weather, and how we measure it. It shows how the different properties of the atmosphere are directly related to the weather experienced on the ground, and to specific weather phenomena and extreme weather events. It describes how the global patterns of temperature and pressure give rise to the overall circulation within the atmosphere, the major wind systems, and the major oceanic currents, and how features such as mountains and the sea affect local weather. It concludes by looking at how weather observations have been used to develop increasingly sophisticated long- and short-range weather forecasting.
</p>Storm Dunlop2017-01-26Plate Tectonics: A Very Short Introductionhttp://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/10.1093/actrade/9780198728269.001.0001/actrade-9780198728269
<table><tr><td width="200px"><img width="150px" src="http://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/covers/9780198728269.png" alt="Plate Tectonics: A Very Short Introduction"/><br/></td><td><dl><dt>Author:</dt><dd>Peter Molnar</dd><dt>ISBN:</dt><dd>9780198728269</dd><dt>Publisher:</dt><dd>Oxford University Press</dd><dt>Subjects:</dt><dd>Science and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography</dd><dt>DOI:</dt><dd>10.1093/actrade/9780198728269.001.0001</dd><dt>Published in print:</dt><dd>2015</dd><dt>Published Online:</dt><dd>2015-03-26</dd></dl></td></tr></table><p>
A revolution occurred in geology in the 1960s: plate tectonics. The idea that continents had drifted with respect to one another had been proposed decades before, but now the mechanism became clear. The Earth’s crust and upper mantle is divided into a small number of rigid, moving plates (approximately twenty of them). Plate tectonics explains much of the structure and phenomena seen today: how ocean basins form, widen, and disappear; why earthquakes and volcanoes are concentrated at plate boundaries; and how the great mountain ranges of the world were built. Plate Tectonics: A
Very Short Introduction explains the nature and mechanisms of plate tectonics and its impact on our understanding of the ongoing processes that continue to change Earth. The significant historical breakthroughs in plate tectonics, by both individuals and teams, are discussed. Some of the practical uses of the subject in forecasting future events and in discovering Earth’s precious mineral resources are also highlighted.
</p>Peter Molnar2015-03-26Dinosaurs: A Very Short Introductionhttp://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/10.1093/actrade/9780198795926.001.0001/actrade-9780198795926
<table><tr><td width="200px"><img width="150px" src="http://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/covers/9780198795926.png" alt="Dinosaurs: A Very Short Introduction"/><br/></td><td><dl><dt>Author:</dt><dd>David Norman</dd><dt>ISBN:</dt><dd>9780198795926</dd><dt>Publisher:</dt><dd>Oxford University Press</dd><dt>Subjects:</dt><dd>Science and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography, Palaeontology</dd><dt>DOI:</dt><dd>10.1093/actrade/9780198795926.001.0001</dd><dt>Published in print:</dt><dd>2017</dd><dt>Published Online:</dt><dd>2017-09-28</dd></dl></td></tr></table><p>
Dinosaurs: A Very Short Introduction discusses how dinosaurs were first discovered and interpreted, and how our understanding of them has changed over the past 200 years. It looks at some of the amazing discoveries that have enabled us to gain new and unexpected insights into dinosaurs as animals with natural histories and behaviours, and considers some of the biggest questions in dinosaur biology, such as the implications of their having warm blood. It also shows how research on dinosaurs has been enriched, particularly in recent decades, by technological break-throughs which complement the informed speculation and luck that have played a part in many of the major discoveries.
</p>David Norman2017-09-28Geography: A Very Short Introductionhttp://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/10.1093/actrade/9780199211289.001.0001/actrade-9780199211289
<table><tr><td width="200px"><img width="150px" src="http://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/covers/9780199211289.png" alt="Geography: A Very Short Introduction"/><br/></td><td><dl><dt>Author:</dt><dd>John A. Matthews, David T. Herbert</dd><dt>ISBN:</dt><dd>9780199211289</dd><dt>Publisher:</dt><dd>Oxford University Press</dd><dt>Subjects:</dt><dd>Science and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography</dd><dt>DOI:</dt><dd>10.1093/actrade/9780199211289.001.0001</dd><dt>Published in print:</dt><dd>2008</dd><dt>Published Online:</dt><dd>2013-09-24</dd></dl></td></tr></table><p>
Geography: A Very Short Introduction charts modern geography's development from its historical roots in exploring foreign lands and mapping the regions of the world. Spanning both physical and human geography, the discipline today is unique as a subject which can bridge the divide between the sciences and the humanities, and between the environment and our society. Using wide-ranging examples from global warming and oil, to urbanization and ethnicity, this Very Short Introduction paints a broad picture of the current state of geography, its subject matter, concepts and methods, and its strengths and controversies.
</p>John A. Matthews and David T. Herbert2013-09-24Savannas: A Very Short Introductionhttp://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/10.1093/actrade/9780198717225.001.0001/actrade-9780198717225
<table><tr><td width="200px"><img width="150px" src="http://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/covers/9780198717225.png" alt="Savannas: A Very Short Introduction"/><br/></td><td><dl><dt>Author:</dt><dd>Peter A. Furley</dd><dt>ISBN:</dt><dd>9780198717225</dd><dt>Publisher:</dt><dd>Oxford University Press</dd><dt>Subjects:</dt><dd>Science and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography, Physical Geography and Topography</dd><dt>DOI:</dt><dd>10.1093/actrade/9780198717225.001.0001</dd><dt>Published in print:</dt><dd>2016</dd><dt>Published Online:</dt><dd>2016-06-23</dd></dl></td></tr></table><p>
Savannas form one of the largest and most important of the world’s ecological zones. Covering one-fifth of the Earth’s land surface, they are home to some of the world’s most iconic animals and form an extremely important global resource for plants and wildlife. Savannas: A Very Short Introduction considers savannas as landscapes and explains the variety of the vegetation, wildlife, and environments. Discussing their origin, topography, and global distribution, it explores the dynamic nature of savannas and illustrates how they have shaped human evolution and movements. It goes on to discuss the unrelenting pressures that confront conservation and management, and considers the future for savannas.
</p>Peter A. Furley2016-06-23Rocks: A Very Short Introductionhttp://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/10.1093/actrade/9780198725190.001.0001/actrade-9780198725190
<table><tr><td width="200px"><img width="150px" src="http://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/covers/9780198725190.png" alt="Rocks: A Very Short Introduction"/><br/></td><td><dl><dt>Author:</dt><dd>Jan Zalasiewicz</dd><dt>ISBN:</dt><dd>9780198725190</dd><dt>Publisher:</dt><dd>Oxford University Press</dd><dt>Subjects:</dt><dd>Science and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography, Geology and the Lithosphere</dd><dt>DOI:</dt><dd>10.1093/actrade/9780198725190.001.0001</dd><dt>Published in print:</dt><dd>2016</dd><dt>Published Online:</dt><dd>2016-12-15</dd></dl></td></tr></table><p>
Rocks underpin our lives: they make up the solid structure of the Earth. We live on the rocky surface of the planet; grow our food on weathered debris derived from rocks; and we obtain nearly all of the raw materials with which we founded our civilization from rocks. Rocks: A Very Short Introduction looks at the nature and variety of rocks and the processes by which they are formed. It considers what we know about the deep rocks of the mantle and core, and what rocks can tell us about the evolution of the Earth; and it looks at rocks found in outer space and on other planets.
</p>Jan Zalasiewicz2016-12-15Earth System Science: A Very Short Introductionhttp://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/10.1093/actrade/9780198718871.001.0001/actrade-9780198718871
<table><tr><td width="200px"><img width="150px" src="http://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/covers/9780198718871.png" alt="Earth System Science: A Very Short Introduction"/><br/></td><td><dl><dt>Author:</dt><dd>Tim Lenton</dd><dt>ISBN:</dt><dd>9780198718871</dd><dt>Publisher:</dt><dd>Oxford University Press</dd><dt>Subjects:</dt><dd>Science and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography</dd><dt>DOI:</dt><dd>10.1093/actrade/9780198718871.001.0001</dd><dt>Published in print:</dt><dd>2016</dd><dt>Published Online:</dt><dd>2016-02-25</dd></dl></td></tr></table><p>
The concept of the Earth’s atmosphere, biosphere, oceans, soil, and rocks operating as a closely interacting system has rapidly gained ground in science. Earth System Science: A Very Short Introduction considers how a world in which humans could evolve arose; how, as a species, we are now reshaping that world; and what a sustainable future for humanity within the Earth system might look like. Drawing on elements of geology, biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, it asks whether Earth system science can help guide us on to a sustainable course before we alter the Earth system to the point where we destroy ourselves and our current civilization.
</p>Tim Lenton2016-02-25The Atmosphere: A Very Short Introductionhttp://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/10.1093/actrade/9780198722038.001.0001/actrade-9780198722038
<table><tr><td width="200px"><img width="150px" src="http://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/covers/9780198722038.png" alt="The Atmosphere: A Very Short Introduction"/><br/></td><td><dl><dt>Author:</dt><dd>Paul I. Palmer</dd><dt>ISBN:</dt><dd>9780198722038</dd><dt>Publisher:</dt><dd>Oxford University Press</dd><dt>Subjects:</dt><dd>Science and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography, Atmospheric Sciences</dd><dt>DOI:</dt><dd>10.1093/actrade/9780198722038.001.0001</dd><dt>Published in print:</dt><dd>2017</dd><dt>Published Online:</dt><dd>2017-03-23</dd></dl></td></tr></table><p>
The atmosphere is the thin, diffuse fluid that envelops the Earth’s surface. Despite its apparent fragility, the existence of this fluid is vital for human and other life on Earth. The Atmosphere: A Very Short Introduction describes the physical and chemical characteristics of different layers in the atmosphere, and shows how the atmosphere’s interactions with land, ocean, and ice affect these properties. It also looks at how movement in the atmosphere, driven by heat from the Sun, transports heat from lower latitudes to higher latitudes. Finally, it presents an overview of the types of measurements used to understand different parts of the atmosphere, and identifies future challenges in the light of climate change.
</p>Paul I. Palmer2017-03-23Mountains: A Very Short Introductionhttp://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/10.1093/actrade/9780199695881.001.0001/actrade-9780199695881
<table><tr><td width="200px"><img width="150px" src="http://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/covers/9780199695881.png" alt="Mountains: A Very Short Introduction"/><br/></td><td><dl><dt>Author:</dt><dd>Martin Price</dd><dt>ISBN:</dt><dd>9780199695881</dd><dt>Publisher:</dt><dd>Oxford University Press</dd><dt>Subjects:</dt><dd>Science and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography, Physical Geography and Topography</dd><dt>DOI:</dt><dd>10.1093/actrade/9780199695881.001.0001</dd><dt>Published in print:</dt><dd>2015</dd><dt>Published Online:</dt><dd>2015-09-24</dd></dl></td></tr></table><p>
Mountains cover one-quarter of the Earth’s land surface and are home to about 12% of the global population. They are the sources of the world’s major rivers, affect regional weather patterns, provide centres of biological and cultural diversity, hold deposits of minerals, and are major centres of tourism. Mountains: A Very Short Introduction outlines why mountains matter globally, addressing the impacts of climate change on hydrological and ecological systems. Considering the risks associated with the increasing frequency of extreme events and ‘natural hazards’ caused by climate change, it discusses the implications for both mountain societies and wider populations, and the need for greater cooperation in adapting to climate change.
</p>Martin Price2015-09-24The Antarctic: A Very Short Introductionhttp://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/10.1093/actrade/9780199697687.001.0001/actrade-9780199697687
<table><tr><td width="200px"><img width="150px" src="http://www.veryshortintroductions.com/view/covers/9780199697687.png" alt="The Antarctic: A Very Short Introduction"/><br/></td><td><dl><dt>Author:</dt><dd>Klaus Dodds</dd><dt>ISBN:</dt><dd>9780199697687</dd><dt>Publisher:</dt><dd>Oxford University Press</dd><dt>Subjects:</dt><dd>Science and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography, Regional Geography</dd><dt>DOI:</dt><dd>10.1093/actrade/9780199697687.001.0001</dd><dt>Published in print:</dt><dd>2012</dd><dt>Published Online:</dt><dd>2013-09-24</dd></dl></td></tr></table><p>
Antarctic: A Very Short Introduction provides a modern account of Antarctica, highlighting the main issues facing the continent today, looks at how the Antarctic has been explored and represented, and considers the main exploratory and scientific achievements of the region. How has globalization impacted on the Antarctic's current and future status? The Antarctic is one the most hostile natural environments in the world. It is an extraordinary physical space, which changes significantly in shape and size with the passing of the seasons. Politically, it is interesting as it contains one of the few areas of continental space not claimed by any nation-state. Scientifically, the continental ice sheet has provided us with vital evidence about the Earth's past climate.
</p>Klaus Dodds2013-09-24